The Foreign Ministry announced yesterday the designation of 12 new ambassadors in countries of America, Asia, Africa and Europe, including Costa Rica and Dominican Republic.

The Ecuadorian Chancellor, Ricardo Patino, said that the new ambassadors, of whom he is awaiting for the respective approval from the destination countries, have been designated to Costa Rica and Dominican Republic.

In addition to the Ecuadorian diplomatic missions in Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malaysia, South Africa, Belarus, France, Hungary, Russia and Turkey.

The Ecuadorian Chancellor also said the Government has appointed four new heads of consular offices in the US cities of Chicago and Houston, as well as in the Dutch The Hague and in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

The names of the new appointed ambassadors and consuls will remain in reserve until the respective approval of the destination countries, a source of the Chancellery told to Efe.

Patiño said that among the 16 foreign service officers, six are women, including four ambassadors and two heads of consular offices.